Hike File

Low level route – Distance: 24.5 km – Climb: 300 metres Time: 7 hour 30 mins (excluding breaks)

Start:  "The Wagon and Horses" – Langsett GridRef: SE 211005

Finish:  "Ye Derwent Hotel" – Bamford – GridRef: SK 208834

Going: xx.

Waymarking: We are following the Alternative Pennine Way, which is not waymarked.

Maps:

• Outdoor Leisure 1 (The Peak District – Dark Peak area) 1:25 000 scale

Books:

• The Alternative Pennine Way – by Denis Brook & Phil Hinchliffe – Published by Cicerone Press, Police Square, Minthorpe – ISBN 1-85284-095-1

Langsett – Cut Gate End 6.5 km

  Start:  "The Wagon and Horses" – Langsett GridRef: SE 211005 Altitude: 250 m

Take the path behind the pub and get onto the north shore of Langsett Reservoir. Go west along path on the shore for about 1.5 km. About 150m beyond the end of the reservoir, join the path that crosses the Little Don River, here it is no more than a stream.

  1.5 km Little Don Stream

A well defined path crosses the stream and zigzags to the south. It swinging east for 100 m and then back to the west, as you climb upto Highcliffe Common. The path goes to the east of the common, crossing the top of the tiny stream Ratten Gutter.

After reaching an altitude of around 350 m, you dip down to cross Haslingshaw Stream, which flows off to the west. In a further 300 m you reach a national park access point which is the start of Mickleden Edge.

  3.2 km Mickleden Edge

The path follows the edge, with Mickleden Beck down below to the right, for about 1.5 km due south.

For the next 2 km the path climbs more slowly, through a area of deep peat. Cut Gate Path at places makes a deep cutting in the peat. It is difficult to give a compass bearing as the path is curving gradually towards the west, so keep to the well defined path. The highest point of the crossing is Cut Gate End at 530 m altitude.

Cut Gate End – Howden Dam – 5.5 km

  6.5 km Cut Gate End – 530 m altitude – 2 hours 30 mins

From here a well defined path lead SW down the hill. After 1.5 km you descend into a steep sided valley, Cranberry Clough. This bring you onto the banks of the River Derwent at Slippery Stones.

  8.7 km Slippery Stones

Keep to the path on the east of the River Derwent. In 700 m or so you should reach the top of the Howden Reservoir, but this depends on how full the reservoir is.

Follow the east shore of the reservoir for 2.5 km, till you reach the Dam

Howden Dam – Ladybower Inn – 8.2 km

12.0 km Howden Dam – 270 m altitude – 4 hours 30 min

Follow the track along the lower, Derwent Reservoir for about 500 m, to where a path on the left goes up into Abbey Tip plantation.

12.5 km Abbey Tip plantation

• Here you have a choice-
  • The high level route via Derwent Edge and Stanage Edge
  • The Low level route via Ladybower Inn – (12 km to Bamford from here)

The low level route takes you along the side of Derwent Reservoir for 4.2 km

14.7 km Derwent Dam

After descending from the dam you pick up a good road for 1.5 km to Wellhead. After a further 1 km you take a path through the woods along Ladybower Reservoir.

This path takes us almost to the viaduct where the A57 crosses the reservoir.

19.2 km Ladybower Viaduct

Don’t joint the main A57 road, but take the track that keeps to the north of the road. In 1 km this descends to the Ladybower Inn. 

Ladybower Inn – Bamford – 4 km

20.2 km Ladybower Inn – 6 hour 30 mins

There is no choice but to follow the road from here for 1.2 km. Return along the A57 for 200 m, then turn left down the A6013 towards Bamford.

21.5 km Ladybower Dam

Below the dam take the path on the right which cuts SW to the valley bottom. When you reach the small road, turn right across the bridge and then follow the road south for 1.5 km to a point just short of Thornhill village.

23.5 km Thornhill

A public footpath on the left, takes you down to the flat meadows on the valley bottom. Follow the path across the fields for 500 m to the stepping stones across the River Derwent. Go round the left of the mill to a lane that runs NE into Bamford village.

24.5 km Bamford - 7 hour 30 mins

At the main road turn right and in 100m you will reach Ye Derwent Hotel

Finish:  "Ye Derwent Hotel" – Bamford – GridRef: SK 208834